The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-28
ORGANIZED THIEVES.
TWO BANDS OF ROBBERS BROKEN
UP AT LAST.


terday-The Receiver Of the Goods
and the Gangs Selling Agent Placed
Under Arrest-Irdication that More
Important Persons Are Implicated
In Tuesday mornings MORNING NEWS
was given full particulars Of the arrest Of
two negroes for stealing tobacco from
Messrs. Ellis, Young & Co, naval stores
factors The article also alluded to the
efforts being made 10 ferret out others of
the gang Since then several very sonsa-
tional developments have been made and
other persons arrested, and the facts 50
far learned implicate still Others in
this well-planned system of robbery.
Monday afternoon Detective Wetherhorn
traced some of the tobacco to the store of j.
f. Monroe, a white grocer at 22I Congress
street The premises were searched and
quite quantity of tobacco was found that
Mr.. Young, who had assumed the role Of a
detective, fully satisfied himself was some
of the tobacco stolen from his firm. Monroe
finally confessed to some Of the points
charged and admitted that he had pur-
chased the tobacco and had taken off the
tags.
MAKING THE ARRESTS.
He further admitted selling considerable
of the tobacco tn one Patrick a cousin who
lived in Ogeechee NJ Wetherhorn drove
out there that night and to his surprise
found Monroe, who he supposed was in the
city, there before him. Patrick admitted
buying the tobacco, but said it was in the
usual course of business, as he bought of
Monroe frequently Several caddies
of the stolen tobacco were
seized and brought to the city.
Yesterday very important clues were Sc
cured and followed up. The first man arrested
was negro named George Gillen. When
brought before Justice Waring Russell lac,
at first, denied everything most strenuous!y,
but when he heard some OF the facts that
the detective had, he weakened and made IA
full confession. The first step then taken
was the arrest of Richard Kirkland and his
young son, Randall, a lad Of Is or 10 years.
on the charge of buying and receiving
stolen goods. Gillen charged kirkland with
buying the tobacco of him. which was EN-
phatically denied
a STARTLING STORY.
Kirkland said that Gillen at one time was
a drayman for him. In reply to the ques-
ton if his family knew Gillen, he replied
that they did not but that Randall knew
him well. Randall had, however, denied
before this knowing the negro at all
Gilen further alleged that last Monday
night he was overtaken while walking
home by young Kirkland who was
in a buggy He told Gillen to get in, and
then went on TO say that his father was
alarmed over the arrest of Young and
Walker which he had Just heard of, and
had sent some of the tobacco which was in
the buggy then, TO Gillen TO be hidden. On
reaching Gillen's house on Lumber street,
he t(+ilten) carried the tobacco in and hid it,
portion in trunk and the balance in
various places about the house
The telling of this story startled
All, and Mr.. kirkland and the
boy denounced it as falsehood. A hastY
consultation was held and then Mr.. Wether-
horn, Maj. Young and a NEWS reporter
sailed forth to investigate the truth or
falsity of the yarn On Bay street an idle
wagon was pressed into service, and the de-
tective and his two apprentices" started for
Yamacraw. On arriving at Gdllen's house,
on Lumber street, opposite the old soap fac
tory, the party alighted.
FINDING THE PLUMBER.
The door was fastened, but Mr.. Wether-
horns persuasive tongue induced q little
child inside 10 hand out the key, with which
the door was unlocked. A stout built
colored woman, came up belligerently as
the trio entered and began questioning
their right to come in so unceremoniously,
but ON explaining the case she was as quiet
as lamb. The boxes, trunks and ether
like hiding places in the two rooms were
thoroughly searched, and resulted in the
finding of three caddies of tobacco, in loose
form, and with the tags all pulled
of, the outline on the plug
showing plainly where it had been removed.
Going into the yard, after some search, an
unopened box of tobacco was found In an
old barrel lying under the house, and the
remains of another box. 1t was the "Pas-
qua" brand, quality that was made for
Ellis, Young IL Co., expressly.
Seizing their find the party proceeded
back TO the Justices office, where f created
no little excitement, both the Kirklands
protesting their ignorance Of the affair
Justice Russell finally decided TO hold
them for trial, and required bail in the sum
of 81 600, which was furnished, Mr.. James
+. Williams going on the bond.
During the afternoon search warrants
were sworn out and two stores on the north
side of the Bay were searched, but nothing
especial was discovered.
THE THIEVES PERFECTLY ORGANIZED.
From the points given by the prisoners
and the facts developed at the examination
II was ascertained that the thieves planned
their work well. There seemed, according
TO the negro's story, two bands. Ben Young
being sort Of ex-oflicio captain Of both.
The first gang consisted of Ben Young
Alfred Walker and a, as yet unknown and
uncaught negro. They sold the products of
their thieving to Monroe. The other gang
tVuHlsteu VI founB, UeOrBe Nrlllen ana, 10 is
thought, two others. They sold their plum
der to Kirkland, so they te tifiei. Young
gives contradictory statements regarding
how he entered the storeroom First he
said he sprung the iron door and entered
at night, passing the boxes
TO another at the door, and that
he left on River street, avoiding the beats
OF the few policeman Again, he saws he
stole the key while the others were at din
ner, and again he claimed 70 have had
false key. They all seemed pretty well
worked up over their 0rrest aud are very
apprehensive of the result Late last eve
ming some very important evidence was
secured by Mr. Young and Mr. Wether-
horn, but they refused tn divulge the nature
of IT. IL Is said that the trail is broadening
out and that otherparties, heretofore unsus-
pected, are implicated. Solicitor General
HSBignon was telephoned to in the after
roon, and asked for 4 conference on the sub
iect and this rather bears out that idea.
Tie impression is that there is regular
organization of the "fcnCesn who use these
negroes for all they are worth, sacrificing
them when danger threatens.
MoEEoE's FLIGET.
j. T. Monroe became frightened over his
connection with the case and suddenly dis
appeared. He has not been seen since YES
terday morning, and his wife and brother
express utter ignorance Of his present
Whereabouts. As one result of his flight his
~. "a, a..